90 forestry Quarterly. 



ships largely to the northwestern States; while the second mill 

 on Howe sound, produces 40 tons of sulphite fibre daily, most 

 of it for Japan. 



In addition to the regular field work incident to administration, 

 the Forest Branch during the past year has conducted reconnais- 

 sance work covering over 12 million acres. This has included 

 land tributary to new railroads ; unknown timbered regions 

 of the north, particularly the Nation lakes, Omineca, Nass and 

 Bella Coola valleys; and the valleys of the Okanogan, Colum- 

 bia, Kootenay and Kettle rivers of the more settled districts of 

 the south. The report includes 18 summarized descriptions of 

 areas covered by the different parties. 



As distinct from this reconnaissance work, special detailed ex- 

 aminations covering 662,280 acres were made. By statute, land 

 carrying timber in excess of 5,000 feet east of the Cascades, and 

 in excess of 8,000 feet west of the Cascades, is not open for 

 sale or pre-emption. All expiring timber licenses or leases remain 

 under reserve until examined by the Forest Branch, and all pre- 

 emptions and applications for purchase are referred to it by the 

 Lands Department for field examination. In this way injudi- 

 cious settlement on non-agricultural land and fraud are prevented. 



The report on forest protection for the year, unusually favor- 

 able climatically, is ver}-^ gratifying. A total of 578 fires was re- 

 ported attributable, 25 per cent to campers, 19 per cent to rail- 

 way locomotives, and 10 per cent to railway construction. The 

 total area burned over was 10,270 acres, classified as 5,835 acres 

 of merchantable timber, 1,900 acres of valuable second growth, 

 and 2,535 acres of slash. The damage was estimated at $18,354, 

 viz., standing timber $4,387; logs on skidways, $12,084; and 

 other property. $1,883. The total expense of fire-fighting was 

 $8,930. Of the 578 fires, 420 were extinguished by the regular 

 force without extra expense; 300 were extinguished in an in- 

 cipient stage (less than ^ acre) ; only 80 fires reached serious 

 proportions (over 10 acres). 



The permit >ystem during the closed season. May i to Oc- 

 tober I, again justified itself. Nearly 12,000 permits to bum over 

 31,000 acres were issued; 95 per cent of these, totalling one- 

 half the area, were for clearing land. Of the total, 17 escaped 

 control. But 2 of the forest fires of the year were due to clear- 

 ing land without a permit. 



